Starting August 29, 2025, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) mandated that all payments for gate entry, parking, and related services at Nairobi’s Karura Forest, including the Sigiria block, must be made exclusively through the government’s eCitizen platform (Paybill number 222222). This directive aligns with a National Treasury circular (CAB/ADM.2A/6 Vol.1/(122)) aimed at phasing out non-designated payment systems to enhance transparency, security, and efficiency in public revenue collection.
The KFS stated that this transition is part of a broader government initiative to streamline public service payments, assuring visitors that all other activities and services in the forest, as well as its partnership with the Community Forest Association (CFA), remain unaffected. Visitors are encouraged to use the eCitizen platform for seamless access and provide feedback to improve services.
However, the sudden shift to the eCitizen payment system has sparked significant frustration from the Friends of Karura Forest (FKF), a community trust that has co-managed the forest for over a decade. The FKF was not consulted or informed prior to the KFS announcement on August 28, 2025, leading to protests at the forest’s Kiambu Road entrance on August 29. FKF members expressed their discontent by throwing water bottles and other items, arguing that the decision disrupts their operations.
They stated that the move transfers all forest revenue directly to the government, leaving the trust without funds to pay staff salaries, service providers, and contractors. The FKF warned that this unilateral action could severely disrupt forest operations and apologized to visitors for any inconvenience, directing inquiries and complaints to the KFS.
The Green Belt Movement (GBM) also criticized the government’s actions, describing the payment system change as a forceful takeover that undermines the Karura Forest Management Plan (2021–2041), developed through extensive consultation to protect the forest’s ecological and cultural heritage. The GBM highlighted that the co-management model with the Friends of Karura Community Forest Association (FKCFA) has been instrumental in transforming Karura into a safe, popular recreational space.
They linked the payment shift to ongoing legal disputes, including a recent court ruling that halted the excision of 51.64 acres of the forest for road expansion, suggesting a pattern of government overreach. The GBM called for an immediate halt to these actions, emphasizing the need to respect legal frameworks protecting Karura and warning that such moves could set a precedent for exploiting other forests.
The lack of clarity on how funds collected through eCitizen will be allocated back to support forest operations further fuels FKF’s concerns. They fear that without prior notice or alternative financing, the trust’s ability to maintain Karura’s trails, security, and conservation efforts could be compromised. This sentiment echoes broader frustrations with digital payment systems in Africa, where unreliable network connections can disrupt transactions, potentially causing delays or confusion for visitors trying to access the forest.
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